Kampot province will host the Green Season Tourism Event in the Coastal Region 2026 from October 2 to 4, as Cambodia steps up efforts to promote coastal destinations, local cuisine and community-based tourism during the traditional green season.
Organised by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) in partnership with the Kampot Provincial Administration, the three-day event will be held along Kampot's beachfront between the Kampong Bay Bridge and Rainbow Bridge, centred around the newly built Hand Statue area.
The event is designed to attract more domestic and international visitors to Cambodia's southwestern region during the green season, which runs from May to October, while creating additional economic opportunities for local and rural communities.
Key Facts
| Indicator | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Green Season Tourism Event in the Coastal Region 2026 |
| Host province | Kampot |
| Date | October 2 to 4, 2026 |
| Main location | Kampot beachfront, around the Hand Statue |
| Organisers | Ministry of Tourism and Kampot Provincial Administration |
| Co-chairs | Tourism Minister Huot Hak and Kampot Governor Mao Thonin |
| Main focus | Coastal tourism, culinary tourism, nature-based tourism and community products |
| Campaign | Visit Cambodia in Green Season 2026 |
| Green Season | May to October |
Kampot puts coastal tourism in the spotlight
The Ministry of Tourism said the event aims to strengthen the potential of nature-based tourism and encourage more travellers to explore Cambodia's southwestern region during the green season.
Kampot's beachfront will become the centre of a series of tourism, culinary, sporting and cultural activities designed to showcase the province's coastal environment and local identity.
The event will be co-chaired by Tourism Minister Huot Hak and Kampot Governor Mao Thonin.
Beyond attracting visitors, the initiative is intended to generate new employment and income opportunities for rural communities by connecting tourism demand with local food, agricultural products and community-made goods.
Food and local products take centre stage
One of the main attractions will be a Culinary Showcase and Food Fair, featuring exhibition booths offering regional signature dishes, seasonal fruits and locally produced community products.
The focus on food reflects the growing role of culinary experiences in destination tourism, allowing visitors to experience local culture through traditional dishes and locally sourced products.
The event will also feature a discussion forum titled “Culinary Tourism Potential and the Beauty of the Coastal Area in the Green Season”, bringing attention to the relationship between local cuisine, coastal destinations and seasonal tourism.
Tourism activities extend beyond food
The programme will combine culinary activities with sports, cultural entertainment and tourism discussions.
Planned activities include:
- Culinary Showcase and Food Fair
- Discussion Forum on culinary tourism and coastal tourism
- Obstacle Trail Run Event Connecting Tourism in the Green Season
- Coastal Area Green Season Tourism Talk Show 2026
- Cultural performances
- Live music concerts
The combination of activities is intended to encourage visitors to spend more time in the destination while experiencing different aspects of Kampot's tourism offering.
Part of Cambodia's green season tourism strategy
The Kampot event is part of the Ministry of Tourism's broader “Visit Cambodia in the Green Season 2026” campaign, which was launched on May 2.
The campaign seeks to change the perception of the May-to-October period as a traditional low season and instead promote it as a period when Cambodia offers lush landscapes, fresh air and milder temperatures.
The tourism ministry has also promoted special offers from hotels and tourism businesses as part of the campaign. In Siem Reap, for example, the Siem Reap Tourism Service Mega Sale offers discounts of between 10% and 50% at participating three- to five-star hotels.
Six themes to broaden Cambodia's tourism offer
The national green season campaign is built around six themes:
Must See, Stay, Taste, Visit, Try and Buy.
The approach is intended to broaden Cambodia's tourism products beyond traditional temple tourism by encouraging visitors to explore ecotourism, culinary experiences and community-based tourism.
The campaign covers Siem Reap, Cambodia's coastal provinces and other tourism destinations across the country.
For Kampot, the October event provides an opportunity to connect these broader tourism objectives with the province's coastal setting, culinary heritage and community products.
Angkor Times Analysis
The Kampot event highlights an important shift in Cambodia's tourism strategy: using the green season not simply as a period to manage lower visitor numbers, but as an opportunity to promote different tourism experiences.
Kampot is particularly suited to this approach because the event can combine coastal scenery, food, community products, outdoor activities and cultural entertainment within one destination.
The culinary component is also significant for local economic development. Tourism spending can extend beyond hotels and restaurants when visitors purchase locally produced food, seasonal fruits and community products.
The success of this type of event will ultimately depend on whether it converts promotional activity into longer visitor stays, higher local spending and repeat visits. Strong participation from local businesses and communities will therefore be important to turning the green season campaign into sustained economic benefits.
More broadly, Cambodia's six-theme approach creates opportunities for destinations to develop tourism products that complement heritage attractions rather than relying on them alone.
What visitors can expect
Visitors attending the Kampot event from October 2 to 4 can expect a combination of:
- Local and regional food showcases
- Seasonal fruits and community products
- Coastal tourism activities
- Outdoor sporting activities
- Tourism discussions and talks
- Cambodian cultural performances
- Live music
- Opportunities to explore Kampot during the green season
The Ministry of Tourism has invited both domestic and international travellers to participate and encouraged local communities and tourism stakeholders to contribute to the event.
FAQs
When will the Kampot Green Season Tourism Event take place?
The event is scheduled for October 2 to 4, 2026.
Where will the event be held?
The main activities will take place along Kampot's beachfront between Kampong Bay Bridge and Rainbow Bridge, centred around the newly built Hand Statue area.
Who is organising the event?
The event is being organised by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the Kampot Provincial Administration.
What will be featured at the event?
The programme includes a culinary and food fair, tourism discussions, an obstacle trail run, a tourism talk show, cultural performances and live music.
What is the Visit Cambodia in Green Season 2026 campaign?
It is a national tourism campaign launched by the Ministry of Tourism on May 2 to promote Cambodia's May-to-October period as a period for nature, community and other tourism experiences rather than simply a traditional low season.
What are the six themes of the campaign?
The six themes are Must See, Stay, Taste, Visit, Try and Buy.